The owners of the Vermont Marble Museum indicated Monday that they will move forward with plans to close the museum now that an effort to find a buyer for the museum had failed.

The Preservation Trust of Vermont came up short in its effort to raise $880,000 to buy the Proctor museum that chronicled the history of the Vermont Marble Company.

Faced with an end of the year deadline, the nonprofit historical group was able to raise only $200,000 toward its goal.

The Preservation Trust came forward this summer with the fundraising offer after the owners announced they would close the museum at the end of the year.

Marsha and Martin Hemm said in an email that they and their employees "are very saddened that we are not able to continue on the road that we had planned with the Preservation Trust. But we are extremely appreciative for the immense amount of work that they did on behalf of the museum and the collection."

The Hemms said they would continue their "efforts to find the proper homes for the museum records and artifacts."

The museum's gift shop remains open part time most days during the Christmas season.